To Be or Not to Be: A Chiropractor

While many believe that any career in the medical field proves promising, the contrary seems to be true for some professions. One such conflict lies in the chiropractic field. A chiropractor "treat[s] patients with health problems of the musculoskeletal system, which is made up of bones, muscles, ligaments, and tendons" (Source 1).  Chiropractors manipulate the spine and use other techniques such as ultrasounds, x-rays, massage therapy, acupuncture and many others to diagnose and treat their patients.

While some may work in a clinic or hospital, most work in outside offices that are sterilized and approved by the medical association. In 2010, there were approximately 52,600 jobs in the chiropractic field. Many of those were self-employed, but otherwise a chiropractor works for a company. Hours range, depending on the company or on the patients. Most offices tend to work with patients' work schedules and tend to have afternoon sessions. The most common yearly salary for entry-level chiropractors ranges from $25,000 to $32,000. According to the Bureau of Labor, the median wage was $67,200.

In order to become a chiropractor,  a "Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree" is required, which usually takes four years to complete, after finishing undergraduate requirements and study, another four years. Once degrees are completed, a licensing exam is required before being able to apply for chiropractor jobs or performing chiropractic services to the public. While licensing issues vary from state to state, the U.S. requires that a chiropractor pass the exam and accredited chiropractic program.

The very prominent controversy and phenomena that occurs in the chiropractic field, however, resides in the unfortunate fact that chiropractic jobs are scarce and do not offer entry-level graduates any sort of benefit (financial and/or emotional). Upon researching for this blog, I found more than enough blogs, articles, and sites that expressed the chiropractor's career in a dark light. One such blog, named "The Chiropractor's Wife", explains that while the idea of becoming a chiropractor sounds appealing and may benefit A FEW, it does not guarantee a stable and beneficial future FOR MOST. What commonly occurs is this: a person takes all the courses and requirements needed to become a chiropractor, gets their degree/licensing, cannot find work in the next 6+ months, and is faced with student loan debts of over $150,000. With an entry-level salary of $25,000 to $32,000 most cannot pay off their loans and thus, interest increases their debts. Another issue that most "fresh chiros" found is that in their jobs, they do not find some employers ethically (and sometimes, legally) correct. Because insurance companies do not fully cover all the expenses, they sometimes have to trick patients into getting credit, payment plans, or other possible illegal ways of receiving money. Some chiropractors also have to experience other ethical issues from their employers, such as calling patients who visit often "good patients" and those that don't go often "bad patients"; and having to work irregular hours for most of the time. Every person pursuing the chiropractic field is always forewarned by at least one professional to NOT go down that road; however, many misconceptions and ignorance have led dreams into nightmares.

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